Good musical sub under $500

Sorry, no offence to anyone who owns them, but IMO Rockets = "mid-fi". (Their reference line is much better and more musical.) They will "do" for home theater but I sure wouldn't want 'em for serious music listening. The Rockets are not especially "musical" IMO.

Most of those rave reviews are from well meaning folks with little or no exposure to high end audio - people who are famililar with the kinda stuff you buy at CC or BB. They don't know enough to make meanigful comparisions and they mainly use Rockets in HT settings, so take the raves with a very several large grains of salt.

I suggest, if you will truly be using your system for 70% music, you stick with well-known "music" speaker manufacturers, preferably used e.g. REL. Otherwise you're not likely to get a "fast" and tuneful sub.

Another suggestion would be a used Alon Centris - very fast, tight and tuneful (and this one *is* musical). Probably $450 or less used.

Rackon,
No offense taken honestly, the Rocket UFW-10 maybe "mid-fi". Which is perfect for I feel I have what you call mid-fi equipment, hence the reason I can only afford a sub for $500 or under. True High-End listeners wouldn't set their glass on a $500 sub :). As for the reviews the one from "Goodsounds" which is not into "home theater" actually said the UFW-10 would be the perfect match for Magnepan MMG Ws which he states is hard for subs to do.I always considered Maggies as high end and out of my league $$ wise, albeit maggie owners on a budget(me again lol). I never heard Alon Centris subs but I'll take your word on them, doing a search I even see where they can be had for $300 new at CSA AUDIO, sure now you tell me about them as I sit here waiting for the UFW-10 to arrive LOL... either way I know I'll be happy, the UFW-10 should match very well with my "mid-fi" Paradigm Studio 20v3s, considering the piece of $%*! AudioSource sub I've been using LOL...
One question though Rackon, you sure your not confusing the Rocket UFW with the Rocket ULW?? it their lower sub, the UFW-10 and UFW-12 are their higher end subs..

Pmt 1209...this may be hard to believe...but the current B$W asw 600 sub($500) surpassed a HSU and a RAVA sub in my home demo...very musical...if you dont like the Rocket...check it out...it is a sealed design...nice build...weighs 40 lbs....

Phasecorrect,
I will thanks... and YES I believe it, I have a pair of B&W monitors I replaced 2 years ago with my present Paradigms but just can't part with them.. they're sitting in the basement covered and dry for I know someday I will use them again or hand them down to one of my kids.. they do make great speakers. Speakers are all personel preferece, to one person a pair may sound wonderful then to another not... Subs are the same way, it's all personel preference. I've been a drummer all my life and still play and I know what sound I like, we'll see with the rockets, I keep hearing they are tight and musical not boomy and earthshaking low to me that is not musical that's special effects.. we'll see when it arrives early next week. One thing I have noticed when the Rocket UFW-10 goes up for sale be it here or at their site they are gone within a couple hours.. I've been beat out of around 4 this past week alone and only got mine because I approached a fellow on their forum who mentioned in a thread he might move up to the UFW-12s..

Actually Rackons post is kinda funny. What happens here is that folks used to spending lots of money can't imagine anything that doesn't cost a great deal of money could possibly compete with what is perceived as higher end.

But with the Rocket UFW-10 comment as a sub, Rackons folly is exposed. Rackon- you are right about the rocket speakers being mid-fi, but this particular sub is a standout and easily is the most musical sub I have ever heard, including comparisons to REL and certainly martin Logan and Velodyne and a host of others. I have 5 audio systems in my house, been to the last two CES/THE shows, and have audtioned, GMA, Merlins, Silverline audio, ZU definition, Thiels,Mcintosh,Krell, Linn, Vandersteens, Dynaudio, B&W and just about everything else out there. I've been a musician for 30 years and am classically trained in music and have performed under world renowned conductors.

The UFW-10 sub by Rocket is the most musical sub I have heard. It is the standout product. You made a comment about a product you havent heard based on the rocket and reference speaker lines, which are not even close to being in the same league with the UFW-10 sub comparatively.

Its worse on the video comments on this forum- there was a thread about Runcos being better than all the other plasmas bacuse they put their own layer of glass on. Wow. Talk about ignorance. Runco charges more so they must be better.

Its great to get a hold of speakers that are wonderful and cost a great deal-- but folks like Rackon look pretty stupid when they start in with that arrogant hogwash about products they have never heard.

The only limitations the Rocket UWF-10 have are as follows; 1. With the best placement- they will not extend effectively below 24 HZ. 2. They cannot fill a very large room with sufficient SPL.- 6000 cubic ffet is out of the question. 2000 is within easy reach- 3200 is on the border.

I use two for HT and concert DVDs only and articulation and decay times are perfect reproductions of live music across all of the concert DVDs. The blend offers a nice integration with my mains and all of the walls shake rattle and roll in the HT setting.

Its best to stick to giving advice about something you actually know about. Rackon- you learning anything?